United Dairy Farmers rolls out EV charging at six sites
The family-owned convenience chain will add DC fast chargers around Cincinnati and Columbus in early 2027, tying charging credits to its U-Drive Plus loyalty program.
United Dairy Farmers (UDF) will add Level 3 DC fast charging at six of its stores in Greater Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. It will be the retailer's first deployment of this kind as the chargers are expected to come online in early 2027.
UDF applied for six sites through Ohio's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and received approval for all of them. The stores are in Hilliard, Lebanon, Mason and Maineville, plus two in Cincinnati, with Electric Era being responsible for installing battery-backed chargers designed to reduce peak demand on the grid.
A charging stop usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, so UDF chose several of its newer stores, which have expanded food, drink and seating areas. Charging will also be part of the U-Drive Plus loyalty program. Members will earn credits for charging and extra credits when they shop in store.
"We've always believed UDF should evolve alongside our guests, and this is another step in doing that," said Jim Dwenger, Head of Retail at UDF. "For more than 85 years, we've focused on making everyday life more convenient for the communities we serve."
Rob Lindner, UDF's Corporate Head of Initiatives, said the company is thinking beyond the charger itself and focusing on how to make that waiting time convenient for drivers.
UDF was founded in 1940 and is still family-owned. It runs more than 170 locations across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and employs more than 3,200 people.
